Rock The Vouhhhnn!, Chapter 7: Part 2.2
Page 161 (Chapter 7, Page 9)
Panel 1: A two-part set of panels that follows Zoe listening to the rest of Madison’s explanation from the end of the previous page. In the first part, she crosses into the parking lot and starts walking back to her car with the food.
ZOE
Definitely tracks, in my experience. What are you thinking about for Congressman Jenkins?
MADISON
(through the receiver)
He talks about how watching the old Buckley debates online from over a century as a teen inspired him to become a Republican. That’s the way to get them to agree to a debate.
Panel 2: In part 2, she stops a split second after hearing the rest of Ms. Mitchell’s explanation; the full dawning of the plan slowly coming into her head.
ZOE
I think I see where you’re going with it. It’s a little bit of a long shot.
MADISON (through the receiver) But not impossible…
ZOE
(Bubble 2)
...True true. I’ll do my best to come up with some thoughts, hit him with it next we meet.
Panel 3: Back to Madison on the trail as she’s about to step into the car and leave officially. She looks on with a slightly puzzled expression on her face; her right hand gently touching the middle of the door handle.
MADISON
You need any help?
ZOE
(through the headphone)
Nah, I’ll be fine…
Panel 4: Cut to a side shot of a conference room a couple of days later. Ms. Olson is seated on the far end of the table looking up on her phone as she waits for someone to come in; a few pieces of paper lying on the edge of the table in front of her.
Caption (Cont., Zoe)
“Already cooking up some ideas in my head.”
Panel 5: We move to a slight close-up on her a short time later. She looks up toward the door and sighs in frustration as if someone had been…
ZOE
Twenty minutes late- what the hell! Did he suddenly take an asshole pill, or…?
JAMESON (Off-Panel) Sorry about that. Traffic was a nightmare...
Page 162 (Chapter 7, Page 10)
Panel 1: Cut to a shot of JAMESON MARNER, the lead debate negotiator for the Jenkins team. He’s a fairly skeezy looking individual with a well tailored suit on; a dollop of grease over the remnants of his hair.
JAMESON
(Cont., to Zoe)
Where were we last time?
Panel 2: Back to Zoe at the table, tossing the phone on the table right next to the papers. She smiles in a way that hides the bubbling jolt of annoyance and anger at the disrespect he shows.
ZOE
Same as we were the past couple of times, Jimmy: we’re looking for two debates in September and October--
JAMESON (interjecting, Off-Panel)
Ah, right right. I have some bad news...this will officially be the end of debate negotiations.
ZOE
(Bubble 2) What?
Panel 3: We move back to Mr. Marner standing directly in front of the table a couple of steps in front of it. He has his right hand in his pocket, flashing a confident half-grin against Zoe’s look of consternation from the previous panel.
JAMESON
It just happened last night. The Congressman believes the public know enough about him and about your candidate that debates aren’t a necessary tool for this election.
Panel 4: An action shot of Zoe quickly rising up from her chair; the rage that had been bubbling up before now shooting out of her like a stream of fire.
JAMESON
(Cont., Off-Panel)
We would’ve told you over the phone, but- we thought doing it face-to-face was more honorable.
ZOE
Just like that? What the hell makes your boss think he can do this without any type of blow back from your constituents?
Panel 5: A two-part set of panels that moves back to Jameson in the same setting/layout as Panel 3. He raises his eyebrow in surprise at the question Ms. Olson flung at him in the previous panel.
JAMESON
You haven’t been watching the news today, have you?
Panel 6: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. After seeing Zoe shake her head “No” at the question, he bursts out in laughter at the degree of knowledge that he has and his opposite number doesn’t.
JAMESON
Oh wow, that is...I definitely don’t wanna spoil it for you! You can just tune to the news in about...couple hours, give or take.